Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-18
SEDGwICK COUNTY TEACHERS ASSo-
CATION.

/ SEDGwICK COUNTY TEACHERS ASso-
I CATION.
! The association met at the high school
building at II a m. Saturday
/ Upon request of the president Professor
Pence, the several district as sociations re
ported the results Of their last meeting
/ After the reading and adoption of the
minutes of the previous meeting, Mr. Sher-
man l.. Davis presented an able papar on
The I Sc and Abuse of the Written Elk
animation" L IS to be regretted that an
extended extract from the above cannot
be given, but suffice il to say that 10 bet
ter production has heretofore been pre-
scented before this body by any country
teacher
Discussion OF the above was opened by
Mr.. W :. Williams who made the follow
ing points: Cses-Cn Enables the new
teacher to classify the school: ~ affords q
standard of promotion; 81 prepares for
and establishes grades: q tends 10 minify
superficial or unsystematic work; o.
prompts the teacher to systematize etc
Abuses-(D 1t becomes an end rather than
4 means: ~ its tendency is TO cram with
isolated facts at the expense of develop
uenf: - j: tends :" ~urf3ce or snowy
WORK only: a. j. Il hiudralice Ia oral ~
preston. etc. Man, hers also took part
tuakin. an animated and INSTRUCTIVE dis
cttssiUn
Mr.. W. Nj. Anderson next read q papcr
on. The ChiId's First Day in School, " and
interS persed the same with some remarks
on his own work.
The speaker on the subject, Political
Science in Common Schools" being absent
Mr. c. NJ Sharpe, the leader Of the discus
sion. was called. He denied the justice or
possibility OF teaching the subject rs
branch of study to children Mr. Ross de-
manded il for ali pupils ON the ground that
republics especially needed it. Prof 'Fitz-
patrick denies any need for teaching the
science to Anne rcan boys or girls either
for that matter Theoric scientists have
ever been opposed to the best interests 81
the Union. Practical science seems the
birjhright Of Americans They breathe
its spirit in the air. As = matter OF pat
riotism we need it not Patriotism is not
dead, but ? living reality awaiting only
the occasion to breathe forth anew
Prof Naylor then presented the practi-
cability of experiments in natuI8! science
in common schools as a means Of interest
ing pupils il other studies He illustrated
his arguments by the history OF numerous
men. He next named many experiments
which can be performed with but little if
any cost. This was intensely interesting
and practical, and opened up new fields OF
thought and inquiry 80 many teachers.
Mr. Harry O. Wilson next entertained
with a paper on Creating taste for
literature in tine common school He
showed the detrimental effects OF certain
light literature. also how easily the habit
OF reading Is formed. He claimed that
children know objects only as objects of
vision seldom as objects OF thought: vet
that even small children can clearly dis
tinguish between poorly written or well
written descriptions. urges giving ont
choice quotations asking The child to find
the author and give the meaning in other
words Let pupils make selections from
the newspapers for Friday afternoon ex-
erciscs. always having each pupil give MS
reason for the selection made. thus train
ing taste and PERCEPTION Your in the
pupil is the means of awaking his in
tere,t in others and in good literature as
well May all so teach our pupils that ii
misfortune oyertake or friends forsake.
they may be able to find companionship in
books: and the verdict Of a just public
will be, Crown the faithful teachers
Prot Fitzpatrick, so well known in our
county, next spoke IN very interesting
manner. lie denied that teaching
has yet arrived at the dig
nifty of a science The problem
Of life is before Us all. and many OF Us viii
work it ont successfully in as many differ
ent ways. The free self-actiyity OF the .
child i the prime element in successful .
teaching Executive ability Is that abiI-
liz which never does anything which those
below you can do Let the teacher apply
this truth in his school Never take away
from the child the right Of self improve
ment by the working out OF his own saliva
ton Good literature is the repository u
al the wisest the best. the nohlest things
hat have ever been thought. said or done
N all time The crushing Of anarchy j. 10
Dc done BY the enlightenment Of the indi
-idual The study of literature will keep
he teacher young in heart the teacher
viii grow hard, cynical, yes cruel. II he
nave no other occupation Recreation i
Imperative We must not he one sided.
Beware OF any man who in speaking can
giye no reason for the faith that Is IN hirn-
The question for you i not wh0 presented
his theory. but why II j. better IL present
his subject in this way. or j. il better
Beware ~ the so-caiied short methods
Follow our always the bez1 that i in yo5'-
Find out some one thing yea can do well.
.ud do il well
Miss Della " smoke. fthe high school.
hen entertained with weli selected a.
veil a. original remarks upon Current
events
The Meeting Of the association WAS one
4 interest aud profit 70 all concer ned.
MARRIED.